by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College continues to play ‘em close as the Blue Devils split a pair of one-run decisions at Coffeyville Thursday, winning 7-6 in eight innings and losing 3-2 in the nightcap In six Jayhawk Conference games this spring, five have been decided by one run and three have gone extra innings.
The Blue Devils (10-9) resume Jayhawk play Sunday against Coffeyville at 1 p.m. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the doubleheader was moved back because of Saturday’s threatening weather.
A pair of pinch hitters provided decisive hits as the Blue Devils won the extra inning opener with three straight singles in the top of the eighth. After an inning opening walk to Brandon Green, Rorey Combs delivered a pinch single and Albert Woodard’s single put KCKCC ahead 6-5. Pinchhitter Josh Schumacher then scored what proved to be the game winner with another single.
Coffeyville got one run back in the bottom of the eighth on a hit batsman and a single before reliever Luke Ostenson stranded runners at first and third with a game-ending fly ball. Jake Purl got the win, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned) in six innings. Three of the hits came to start the bottom of the seventh as the Red Ravens tied the game 5-5 with a pair of runs and loaded the bases before Purl escaped with a strikeout and a fly ball. The Ravens started the game with a triple, single and an error for a 2-2 tie in the first but Purl did not allow another hit until two were out in the bottom of the sixth.
The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the first on a walk, Tyler Pittman’s bunt single, throwing error and Alex Phillips’ ground ball and then went ahead 5-2 with three runs in the third. Chase Redick and Easton Fortuna started the innings with singles and after a sacrifice bunt by Zach Mahoney, Brandon Green singled in one run and a throwing error on Ty Bradshaw’s bunt scored two more.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the seventh of the second game, the Blue Devils scored one run on a double by Green and a two-out pinch single by Combs before reliever Brad Hershey left the tying run on third with a game-ending strikeout. KCKCC’s first run came in the third on a leadoff triple by Woodard and Pittman’s ground ball.
Chad Cox took the loss although allowing just five hits but four of them figured in the scoring. The Ravens went ahead 2-1 in the third on Damon Jorgensen’s 2-run single following Cox’ only walk and a hit and the winning run came in the fifth on a 2-out single by Bryan Miranda. Cox struck out four.
